09/14/2016

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, CIEE and Mobility International USA (MIUSA) have provided 27 scholarships to U.S. college students with disabilities to study abroad.

Representing 24 colleges and universities across the country, the students who received CIEE/MIUSA Access to the World Scholarships had the opportunity to further their academic studies while immersing themselves in another country and culture including France, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Spain, and other locations.

The scholarships are part of CIEE’s five-year leadership pledge to increase access to study abroad for all students from all backgrounds. “International education is a powerful tool in the development of all students, providing necessary skills to succeed in a globally interconnected world,” said CIEE President and Chief Executive Officer James P. Pellow.

Virginia Commonwealth University student Antoine Craig thought studying abroad was beyond his reach. A strong advocate for people with disabilities in his home community of Richmond, Virginia, Antoine believed his visual impairment would preclude him from traveling and learning abroad. “I never thought I would be able to leave the U.S. and experience another culture. As a visually impaired person, there are a host of challenges – some I could expect and some I could not even fathom,” he said.

Antoine received a scholarship to take part in CIEE’s Summer Language and Culture program in Alicante, Spain, in 2015. With this experience, he became the first person in his family to study abroad – with or without a disability. “The scholarship has allowed me to overcome my fears of traveling alone. Jumping in headfirst through this experience allowed me to see what I’m really capable of. Without the CIEE/MIUSA Access to the World Scholarship, I don’t know that I would ever have had the chance to learn that lesson,” said Craig.

MIUSA CEO and co-founder Susan Sygall applauded the long-standing partnership with CIEE. “I am so excited that MIUSA and CIEE are working in partnership to increase the number of people with disabilities who participate in all types of international exchange,” she said. “The scholarships have created a powerful catalyst for current awardees to serve as mentors and examples to demonstrate to people with disabilities ‘what is possible’.”

Joseph Underwood, a student at the University of Missouri – Columbia who received a scholarship to further his Spanish language skills during CIEE’s Summer Language and Culture program in Seville, Spain, this past June, agrees, saying, “If I were to speak to another student with a disability who was considering studying abroad, I’d tell them there’s no reason to think they can’t. It’s worth it. Studying abroad was the best experience of my life.”

University of Missouri – Columbia student Joseph Underwood with fellow study abroad students in Seville, Spain.

CIEE and MIUSA launched the scholarship program in March 2015 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which has helped to expand opportunities for people with disabilities since 1990. The scholarships are part of CIEE’s Generation Study Abroad pledge to break through the barriers of cost, curriculum, and culture to double the number of students from all backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and majors who study abroad by 2020. In support of this initiative, CIEE has committed to providing $20 million in scholarships and grants to American students, to sponsoring passports for 10,000 students, and to offering an annual $20,000 grant to college faculty to support innovative approaches to custom study abroad programs.

The Dominican Republic was chosen purposefully as the location for the seminar for several reasons. The history of race relations in the Dominican Republic provides an interesting backdrop to explore issues of identity. The country has a rich cultural heritage that can be seen through the Congos of Villa Mella, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which faculty members will be visiting. And finally, the Dominican Republic allows for an in-depth exploration of the African Diaspora.

Throughout the seminar, faculty members will model activities for intercultural development that can be used with their students. In addition, they will learn hands-on program planning aimed at understanding how to overcome the barriers and challenges they may face throughout the process of planning a study abroad program.

Participants were each nominated by their campus president based on their exemplary leadership, research, and teaching. They include William Arce and Jes Therkelson of California State University, Fresno; Samuel Roberson of Claflin University; Novell Tani and Evelyn Tyler of Florida A&M University; Nicole Yarling of Florida Memorial University; Melvenia Martin of Grambling State University; Bahiyyah Muhammad and GiShawn Mance of Howard University; Ervin James III and Mariola Rosario of Paul Quinn College; Erin Barnes and Joseph Rodriguez of the University of Texas, El Paso; and James Pope of Winston-Salem State University.

According to Marybeth Gasman, director of the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions, “IFDS is important to diversify study abroad opportunities for students at minority serving institutions as faculty members need the tools in order to plan successful study abroad experiences.”

James Pellow, President of CIEE, added, “IFDS complements the other components of the CIEE/CMSI partnership, which includes engaging presidential leadership in advocating for study abroad; the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship program, which supports MSI students to travel to London, Cape Town, or Seoul; and our Passport Caravan, which is focused on giving free passports to students throughout the nation.”

06/27/2016

We’re excited to announce Academy Award-winning actress and human rights activist Mira Sorvino and Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell as the featured speakers for the 2016 CIEE Annual Conference, November 16-19, in Los Angeles.

At the Loews Hollywood Hotel, Sorvino and Sorrell will offer inspiration to an audience of more than 500 scholars, thinkers, and leaders in international education who are working to expand global education in the 21st century.

Academy Award-Winning Actress and Human Rights Activist Mira Sorvino

During the conference’s opening presentation on November 16, Sorvino will share her perspectives on study abroad as a critical influencer in students’ lives, including her own. Sorvino studied abroad with CIEE in Beijing, China, while a student at Harvard University, an experience that helped to influence the roles she has pursued in her acting career and her life-long activism around human and women’s rights.

Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell

On November 18, during the conference’s Annual Luncheon, Sorrell will share his lessons in overcoming barriers and getting things done that others say can’t be done. In a few short years as president, Sorrell transformed the struggling Paul Quinn College – a historically black college in Dallas, Texas, on the brink of losing accreditation – into one of the most innovative small colleges in America that is rapidly becoming a model for urban higher education.

This year’s conference theme, Study Abroad 2016: Partnering with Faculty to Expand Global Education, is part of CIEE’s Generation Study Abroad pledge to break through the barriers of cost, curriculum, and culture to increase access to study abroad by all students. In support of this initiative, CIEE has committed to providing $20 million in scholarships and grants to American students, to sponsoring passports for 10,000 students, and to offering an annual $20,000 grant to college faculty to support innovative approaches to custom study abroad programs.

Mira Sorvino, Academy Award-Winning Actress and Human Rights ActivistMira Sorvino is an actress best known for her commercial hits, “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” “Mimic,” “The Replacement Killers,” and “Summer of Sam.” Her breakthrough film was Woody Allen's “Mighty Aphrodite,” which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1996 among many other honors.

Sorvino is an ardent supporter of human and women’s rights causes, having spent much of her career pursuing roles that marry her love of acting with her social-activist concerns. Sorvino starred in the critically acclaimed Holocaust drama, “The Grey Zone”; the 2005 miniseries, “Human Trafficking,” which explored the lives of women and children who have been abducted and forced into slavery; and the 2012 play, “Trade in Innocents,” about a couple that joins the fight to end the trafficking of children after the loss of their own child.

Sorvino is the official ambassador for the worldwide human rights organization Amnesty International's "Stop Violence Against Women" program. Her work with Amnesty was recognized at the Artivist Film Festival, which acknowledges socially conscious filmmakers, activist celebrities, and charitable organizations. In March of 2006, she was honored with Amnesty International's Artist of Conscience Award, which is given to those who have displayed strong philanthropic and humanist efforts. Through her work with Amnesty, she has lobbied Congress on such topics as human trafficking and the atrocities in Darfur, Sudan. Additionally, as United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Global Fight against Human Trafficking, in 2013 Sorvino traveled to Cambodia with the Freedom Project to develop an exposé on child sex trafficking, which resulted in “Every Day in Cambodia: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary.”

Michael Sorrell, Ed.D., President of Paul Quinn CollegeMichael J. Sorrell is the 34th president of Paul Quinn College. Under his leadership, the school has been transformed into one of the most innovative small colleges in America and is rapidly becoming a model for urban higher education by focusing on academic rigor, experiential learning, and entrepreneurship.

Sorrell is active in the community, serving as a trustee or director for Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, the College Board, Amegy Bank, Teach for America, Earth Day Texas, Dallas Regional Chamber, the Dallas Foundation, and the Tate Distinguished Lecture Series and the Department of Education Policy and Leadership for the Simmons School of Education at Southern Methodist University. He is a sought-after writer and speaker, regularly contributing editorials featured in the “Dallas Morning News” and the “Huffington Post.” Additionally, his TEDx talk on the New Urban College Model is critically acclaimed.

The “Washington Monthly” recently named Sorrell one of America’s 10 Most Innovative College Presidents. Additionally, he has been awarded the 2012 HBCU Male President of the Year by “HBCU Digest”; the Excellence in Education Distinguished Alumni Award from his high school, St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, Illinois; and the A. Kenneth Pye Award for Excellence in Education from the Alumni Association of Duke University’s School of Law.

05/17/2016

We're expanding our presence in London with a new property for our Global Institute in London’s Bloomsbury neighborhood.

The UK is the number one-ranked global destination for Americans to study abroad, with over 38,000 students attending programs in 2013-14, according to data from Open Doors. And those numbers are continuing to grow each year.

At 11,500 sq. ft., CIEE’s new London campus is large enough to accommodate increasing numbers of study abroad students. Located at 46-47 Russell Square, the building features Georgian-style architecture, 15 classrooms, a resource-rich library, stylish café, garden terrace, and technology center.

CIEE's new Global Institute - London at 46-47 Russell Square in Bloomsbury.

CIEE chose the dynamic Bloomsbury location because of the wealth of cultural and educational opportunities it offers students. The new campus is next to the British Museum and just steps from many of London’s prestigious colleges and educational institutions, including University College London and SOAS, University of London. The area is also home to King’s Cross Station, made famous in the Harry Potter book and movie series, Central St. Martins College of Art and Design, the cutting-edge Gagosian Gallery, and Granary Square, a favorite of art students.

In addition to its prime location, the Global Institute – London offers CIEE’s unique Open Campus program, which allows students of all majors to design a study abroad experience that’s right for their needs – one that offers maximum mobility, immersion, and intensive study, with opportunities for internships, research projects, and community service. Students can enroll in one, two, or three six-week academic blocks in London, or combine blocks at multiple CIEE Global Institutes, including at Berlin, Paris, or Rome, to immerse themselves in the unique cultural, historical, commercial, and academic attributes that make each place special.

Students at the Global Institute – London can choose between academic tracks in business; communication, journalism, and new media; international relations and political sciences; health sciences; and literature and culture. Additionally, they can direct enroll at four of London’s finest universities, including Goldsmiths, University of London; University College London; SOAS, University of London; and University of Westminster.

Lynn University student Katrina Daley is enrolled to be among the first students to attend class at the new Bloomsbury location when it opens this fall, advancing her studies in retail fashion. She’ll take courses in three of Europe’s top design centers – Berlin, London, and Paris – over the course of the semester, creating a curriculum that brings her major to life as never before possible. “I never dreamed that I would be able to pursue my passion in the three leading fashion cities of the world,” she said. “This opportunity is greater than any internship or job, giving me the on-site experience to truly understand how fashion and culture are intertwined. This will help me in my career after graduation.”

“More than ever, our students crave the firsthand learning experiences of study abroad combined with mobility, not just between cities, but between countries,” said Maritheresa Frain, executive vice president, study abroad at CIEE. “Through Open Campus, every student, whether a business major, architecture student, or fashion degree-seeker like Katrina, has access to a study abroad program that’s right for their needs, schedule, and resources.”

In addition to the new London location, CIEE will open its two new Global Institutes in Paris and Rome this fall.

04/15/2016

CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange today credited the success of its inaugural Generation Study Abroad Access Grant (GSAAG) recipient’s program, and shared highlights from the Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) J-Term, STEM-focused, and faculty-led Global Maritime Academy program in Sharjah and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“NTCC’s Global Maritime Academy program was a great success, and truly supported our goal to recognize innovative programs that increase access to study abroad on every level,” said Kellie Sullivan, executive director of Faculty-Led and Custom Programs at CIEE. “We are excited to launch the 2017 campaign on April 15 and look forward to supporting more of these innovative programs that prepare students to succeed in today’s globally competitive environment,” she said. Sullivan also noted the key role that Abu Bakr Al Ani played in the program. The resident director of the CIEE Study Center in Sharjah, Al Ani skillfully applied his professional experience as a translator, eight years’ experience in the UAE, and his welcoming style to help create and maintain a thriving learning environment and make the experience a success.

CIEE’s first-ever GSAAG grant last year of $20,000 supported NTCC’s Global Maritime Academy program for freshmen and sophomores majoring in science, technology, engineering, math, industrial maintenance technology, drafting and design, industrial electrician, or welding. As participants, the students, many of whom had never had the opportunity to travel or study abroad before, received workforce training, industry credentials relevant to future employment, and intercultural skills training. Program highlights included:

"The Global Maritime Academy’s first Generation Study Abroad program has had a profound impact on the lives of participating students and faculty at Northshore Technical Community College,” said Dr. William S. Wainwright, NTCC Chancellor. “The robust curriculum ensured relevant industry exposure in the field of maritime studies coupled with meaningful cultural immersion activities. CIEE provided flexibility for the construct of an innovative curriculum that has captured the interest of key stakeholders interested in supporting future international study abroad," he said. NTCC’s Global Maritime Academy proposal was one of nearly 50 submitted by schools across the United States during CIEE’s inaugural GSAAG campaign to recognize innovative programs that increase access to study abroad, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math.

04/07/2016

CIEE and The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education’s Center for Minority Serving Institutions (Penn CMSI) today announced scholarship details related to our three-year comprehensive partnership to increase study abroad at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

CIEE has pledged 100 percent of all exhibitor fees related to its Annual Conference in 2016, 2017, and 2018 to support study abroad scholarships for students from Minority Serving Institutions. CIEE and CMSI expect the first-year scholarship pool to total at least $50,000.

Funds historically used to support conference expenses will now be earmarked for the most financially challenged students attending the nation’s nearly 600 Minority Serving Institutions. Each year for the next three years, the scholarship funds will cover 100 percent of program fees and travel costs for 10 students of color from 10 MSIs. Each cohort of 10 students will take part in a summer study abroad program designed to enhance their leadership and intercultural skills in one of three locations: London, England (summer 2017); Cape Town, South Africa (summer 2018); and Seoul, South Korea (summer 2019).

The scholarship is being named the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship in honor of Frederick Douglass – the African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and international statesman – to highlight the characteristics that today’s young leaders need most: a keen intellect, a strong work ethic, and a global perspective. President Abraham Lincoln called Douglass “one of the most meritorious men, if not the most meritorious man, in the United States.” Of the many impressive chapters of his life, after publishing his international bestselling autobiography in 1845, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” Douglass traveled to London and spent two years traveling and lecturing extensively throughout Britain and Ireland. During this trip, British supporters raised funds to buy his freedom from his American owner and when Douglass returned to America in 1847, he was a free man.

Consistent with that legacy, Frederick Douglass Global Fellows are meritorious men and women who demonstrate high academic achievement and exemplary communication skills, who possess the hallmarks of self-determination, who exhibit characteristics of bold leadership, and who have a history of service to others. In the spirit of one of America’s most powerful intellectuals, communicators, and scholars, Frederick Douglass Global Fellows commit to sharing their experience and intercultural growth with peers and classmates, before, during, and after the fellowship.

To become a Frederick Douglass Global Fellow, each student must be nominated and receive a letter of recommendation from the president of their institution following their first year of college.

The first scholarships will be awarded on November 1, 2016 by Penn’s CMSI, one of the nation’s leaders in elevating the educational contributions of MSIs, increasing the rigorous scholarship of MSIs, and strengthening efforts to close educational achievement gaps among disadvantaged communities.

"Our partnership with CIEE is an unprecedented effort to move the needle in a serious way around study abroad for students of color, and especially students at Minority Serving Institutions,” said Dr. Marybeth Gasman, education professor and director of the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions. “Together, we are working to break down the barriers of cost, curriculum, and culture that prevent far too many students of color from experiencing international study. This significant financial support will have a direct impact on some of our country’s brightest students.”

In addition to the scholarships, CIEE and CMSI have committed to a three-year partnership to co-sponsor training for college presidents and workshops for faculty to increase diversity in study abroad. Research shows that students who study abroad can have higher GPAs, are more likely to graduate on time and are more attractive to employers that seek to hire candidates with intercultural competencies. However, there is a significant gap in the profile of those who study abroad versus the overall population of U.S. undergraduates. While students of color represent almost 40 percent of all undergraduates, they represent only 26 percent of those students who study abroad, including just 8.3 percent who are Hispanic and 5.6 percent who are Black.

“As the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization founded to support international exchange for all students, CIEE strives to implement both practical and innovative solutions to overcome the barriers to study abroad. For seven decades, we’ve sponsored an annual conference that strives to bring together leaders in the field of study abroad to share best practices to improve the student experience. We felt compelled to use this platform – the annual conference – to demonstrate a simple approach to funding student scholarships, which will allow more students to embrace this life-changing academic experience,” said James P. Pellow, Ed.D., president and chief executive officer of CIEE and a Penn Graduate School of Education alumnus. “With a proliferation of annual conferences, workshops, and meetings devoted to international study and exchange, we hope that other organizations might consider a similar approach to opening doors for individual students by funding scholarships.

The deadline for students to apply to become Frederick Douglass Global Fellows is October 1, 2016.

03/28/2016

CIEE and the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) have published a report with new and original data regarding study abroad statistics for students at minority serving institutions (MSIs). The report, "Increasing Diversity Abroad: Expanding Opportunities for Students at Minority Serving Institutions," examines the alarming lack of diversity in both racial composition and institutional representation for study abroad, noting that students of color account for less than 25% of those who engage in such opportunities.

Data from the Institute of International Education suggests that a mere 3.6% of all study abroad students hail from an MSI, despite the fact that MSIs educate 20% of all undergraduate college students in the United States. To address this disparity, the report offers a comprehensive overview of the benefits of study abroad for not just students but faculty and institutions as well. The report also offers five recommendations specifically directed at MSIs to help them increase funding and develop programs for study abroad at their respective institutions.

“As the institutions best positioned to cultivate and promote diversity, MSIs should be global leaders in education,” said Paola ‘Lola’ Esmieu, associate director for programs at CMSI and lead author of the report. “Helping MSIs further establish study abroad programs for their students is an essential and actionable way to work toward that goal.”

The benefits of study abroad are numerous: it increases retention and graduation rates, promotes intercultural and global knowledge, allows for institutional collaboration, and aids students’ personal and professional development. However, students and institutions must overcome financial and cultural obstacles to participate in study abroad opportunities – obstacles that are magnified at MSIs, which receive comparatively lesser funding relative to other institutions. The report offers strategies to mitigate financial and other burdens and ensure MSI students may gain greater access to opportunities to study abroad.

“Expanding opportunities for global education is an imperative for university leaders across the country,” said James P. Pellow, Ed.D., president and chief executive officer of CIEE and a Penn Graduate School of Education alumnus. “Promoting best practices for education at MSIs is both a privilege and a powerful way to affect change.”

The report was developed as a joint effort stemming from the recent part¬nership between CMSI and CIEE. In November 2015, CIEE and CMSI gathered 10 presidents of leading MSIs in Berlin, Germany, for an inaugural Study Abroad Leadership Workshop for Minority Serving Institutions to discuss the importance of exposing more stu¬dents from MSIs to international edu¬cation opportunities. CIEE’s profes¬sionalism and impact were strongly endorsed by the MSI presidents, who recognized our work as critically important in promoting cultural and educational opportunities for all students.

The success of the Study Abroad Leadership Workshop has led CMSI and CIEE to expand their partnership for three more years of programming to produce integrated training and support programs for key constituents at MSIs. Throughout this period, CIEE will provide $100,000 to create a scholarship fund that will be administered by CMSI to students from MSIs who would not otherwise be able to study abroad.

03/08/2016

CIEE announced today that top-ranked Tulane University will serve as its new School of Record for its undergraduate college and high school study abroad programs.

Tulane will begin awarding credit to undergraduate college students on CIEE Study Abroad programs in fall 2016 and to high school students on CIEE Global Navigator Language & Culture summer abroad programs beginning in summer 2016.

According to Open Doors, the annual survey on student mobility conducted by the Institute of International Education, the fastest-growing academic areas of interest for international study are science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); business and management; and health sciences. Tulane University is one of the nation’s premier research universities with highly respected academic programs in each of these areas, including architecture, engineering, technology, public health, business, liberal arts, and world languages. The university is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as by leading academic organizations in the areas of engineering, architecture, public health, and business.

In addition, Tulane is a strong supporter of international education. Through its Center for Global Education, the university strives to offer its students access to the highest-quality study abroad opportunities – a commitment it shares with CIEE. “With its long history of supporting and offering exceptional international programs, especially in Latin America and Cuba, Tulane will be able to provide CIEE and our more than 340 member colleges and universities with superior advice and service as we strive to meet students’ international education needs,” said Alexandra Wood, CIEE vice president of academic affairs. “Tulane and CIEE will continue to work together to provide access to high-quality programs for students from all academic and socio-economic backgrounds.”

Tulane is a longtime member of CIEE’s Academic Consortium, a group of more than 340 U.S. college and universities that plays a key role in the development, research, and evaluation of CIEE Study Abroad programs.

“Tulane University has been a leader in international education for decades and is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in the country. They are an important member of CIEE’s Academic Consortium and we are excited to be partnering with them to provide exceptional benefits to our academic partners,” said Maritheresa Frain, Ph.D., CIEE executive vice president for study abroad.

"Tulane currently has more than 1,000 international students from 30 different countries. We also have 40 major academic programs operating in 20 countries,” Tulane University President Mike Fitts said. “Being named CIEE’s School of Record is a singular recognition that greatly enhances our international educational mission.”

03/01/2016

Today CIEE and The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education’s Center for Minority Serving Institutions (Penn CMSI) announce a three-year comprehensive strategy to increase study abroad at minority serving institutions (MSIs), including workshops for college presidents, faculty training programs, and student scholarships.

Research shows that students who study abroad have higher GPAs, are more likely to graduate on time, and are more attractive to employers that seek to hire candidates with intercultural competencies. However, there is a significant gap in the profile of those who study abroad versus the overall population of U.S. undergraduates. While students of color represent almost 40 percent of all undergraduates, they represent only 26 percent of those students who study abroad, including just 8.3 percent who are Hispanic and 5.6 percent who are black.

Recognizing the importance of senior leadership in addressing these gaps, in November 2015 CIEE and Penn CMSI gathered 10 presidents of leading minority serving institutions in Berlin, Germany, for an inaugural Study Abroad Leadership Workshop for Minority Serving Institutions to discuss the importance of exposing more students from MSIs to international education opportunities. Workshop participants agreed that study abroad must be adapted as part of a school’s overall culture in order to succeed in engaging more students of color in the practice. Such culture change, they determined, requires a multipronged effort that relies on engaging faculty, known to be key influencers in mentoring and guiding students.

After the strong endorsement on the impact of the workshop from the MSI presidents, CIEE and Penn CMSI have agreed to expand their partnership for three more years of programming, signing a memorandum of understanding to produce integrated training and support programs for key constituents at MSIs.

"Our partnership with CIEE is an unprecedented effort to move the needle in a serious way around study abroad for students of color, and especially students at minority serving institutions,” said Marybeth Gasman, professor and director of the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions. “Through a comprehensive plan that engages MSI leaders, faculty, and students in the planning and facilitation of study abroad, we can bring vast learning opportunities to students who have longed to experience a larger world and enhance their learning.”

The partnership will include:

1. President Workshops on International Education – CIEE and Penn CMSI will produce the Leadership Workshop for Minority Serving Institutions for two more years. The workshops will coincide with the 2016 and 2017 CIEE Annual Conferences in Los Angeles, California; and Austin, Texas.

2. Faculty Training and Development Programs on International Education – CIEE and Penn CMSI will co-sponsor the ELEVATE conference, an annual program that brings together early career MSI faculty to further equip them with support, training, and an opportunity to create a close-knit network of peers. In addition, CIEE and Penn CMSI will co-sponsor MSI faculty to attend a special CIEE International Faculty Development Seminar in summer 2016, which will provide additional training and an introduction to best practices.

3. Student Scholarships for Study Abroad – CIEE will donate all proceeds from its Annual Conference vendor fees to a scholarship fund that will be administered by Penn CMSI. Each year, Penn CMSI will award scholarships totaling at least $50,000 to students from MSIs who would not otherwise be able to study abroad.

“Expanding opportunities for global education is an imperative for university leaders across the country. Our experience indicates that the most successful colleges are those that have strong leadership advocating for international education, engaged faculty shaping programs that are appropriate for each institution, and students that have the support they need to participate,” said James P. Pellow, Ed.D., president and chief executive officer of CIEE and a Penn Graduate School of Education alumnus. “The opportunity to work with the nation’s leader in promoting best practices for education at MSIs is both a privilege and a powerful way to affect change.”

Said Michael Sorrell, president of Paul Quinn College, “As the world has become a more interconnected and smaller place, students from under resourced communities cannot afford to be left on the sidelines and marginalized in this new world order. The work that CIEE does in expanding the cultural and educational opportunities for all students is critically important and tremendously under appreciated. The Paul Quinn College community is extremely grateful for CIEE’s and Penn CMSI’s investment in our students and our faculty.”

02/11/2016

CIEE announced today the themes for its 69th and 70th annual conferences on international education.

CIEE’s 2016 Annual Conference will focus on the importance of engaging faculty in the development of international education programs and will be held in Los Angeles, CA, November 16-19, 2016.

“Faculty are the heart and soul of the university, shaping each institution’s curriculum, research agenda, service initiatives, and serving as student mentors and role models. Today, trends in international education are calling faculty from every academic discipline to lead the development of new international programs in areas such as business, education, health sciences, and STEM disciplines that augment and complement more traditional international programs in the humanities, languages, and social sciences. Facilitating that trend will require a rich collaboration between faculty and experienced study abroad professionals who are well versed in developing and implementing high-quality international programs,” says James P. Pellow, Ed.D., president and CEO of CIEE.

CIEE’s 69th Annual Conference theme, “Study Abroad 2016: Partnering with Faculty to Expand Global Education,” will serve as a springboard for a multi-part dialogue dealing with critical issues shared by study abroad professionals and the constituencies they serve. Conference presenters will be encouraged to submit proposals that demonstrate best practices for collaborating with faculty to expand the portfolio of high-quality international programs for students from all academic disciplines.

“The trends in study abroad are clear,” says Maritheresa Frain, Ph.D., executive vice president for study abroad at CIEE. “For the last two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of faculty leading study abroad programs, as well as an increase in non-traditional academic disciplines interested in international programs including global programs focusing on business, STEM majors, and health sciences. In response, we need to expand our conversation and share best practices for supporting these trends, especially in the area of collaborating with faculty.”

CIEE’s 2016 Annual Conference will serve as an opportunity for universities to share best practices in how faculty and study abroad professionals collaborate on advancing institutional objectives. Questions that might be addressed include: How do we build a more robust framework for collaboration? How can study abroad professionals collaborate with faculty to help students from all socio-economic backgrounds, and all academic majors, participate in high-quality study abroad programs? How are students pursuing the most challenging academic majors finding ways to study abroad, with faculty leading the charge? How can we jointly overcome the primary barriers to study abroad: cost, curriculum, and culture? How are innovative institutions leveraging technology to facilitate and enhance faculty-directed international study?

2017 Annual Conference will Highlight the Use of Technology to Enhance International EducationWith preparations well under way for 2016, CIEE also announced that their 2017 Annual Conference will center on how best to leverage and manage technology to achieve learning and program goals. While many faculty and study abroad professionals loath the proliferation of technology and smart phones in university settings and yearn for a return to the days when students were completely offline during international programs, our reality is that the world has changed and is interconnected like no other time in history. Today’s world is connected via the internet, social media, and a 24/7 news cycle. Our students travel with the world in their pockets. Our challenge is to find the most positive ways to embrace technology to enrich international learning opportunities for a generation that was born after the founding of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

The 2017 Annual Conference, “Born Digital: Embracing Technology to Enhance International Education,” will be held in Austin, Texas (November 8–11, 2017).